$2.75 Million in Cocaine, $1.7 Million in Heroin Seized at San Luis Port of Entry

Five Cocaine Smuggling Attempts, Two Heroin Smuggling Attempts Stopped So Far This Fiscal Year
Monday, December 10, 2007

San Luis, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Luis Port of Entry have stopped the fifth cocaine smuggling attempt into the United States since the beginning of the new fiscal year. CBP officers seized more than 59 pounds of the illicit drug and arrested one person in connection with the failed smuggling attempt.

At around 10:45 a.m. Saturday, CBP officers were screening incoming traffic for terrorism connections, narcotics smuggling, immigration violations, and other dangers when the driver of a 2007 Ford Courier attempted to come through the port of entry. Based on suspicions raised during the primary inspection and routine questioning, the vehicle and driver were sent in for an intensive inspection.

During the inspection, officers noticed anomalies within the vehicle and after a narcotics detector dog alerted to narcotics odor, they discovered a compartment built into the vehicle. When the compartment was opened, the officers discovered 22 packages of cocaine hidden inside.

The driver, a 31-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for investigation.